What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to create a biobank of glioma models that accurately reflects human gliomas for drug discovery.

April 5, 2026Cancer Research0 citations

Abstract 2162: GliomaPDOX - A direct brain-to-brain glioma xenograft library for drug discovery and development.

EFEduardo B. FernándezUniversidad Autónoma de Coahuila CTChristopher TseUniversity of California, Los Angeles JSJennifer J. SalinasUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Key Points

The aim is to create a biobank of glioma models that accurately reflects human gliomas for drug discovery.
Established a biobank of over 200 glioma orthotopic xenografts derived from human tumors.
Implemented a non-invasive reporter system to monitor tumor growth and responses to treatment in real time.
Examined the molecular and histopathological characteristics of each glioma model.
Developed a robust platform to evaluate drug efficacy against gliomas in a physiologically relevant context.
Demonstrated that GliomaPDOX models maintain key features of their parental tumors, facilitating better drug discovery.
The reporter system effectively monitored drug-induced changes in tumor growth.

Abstract

Abstract Cancer drug discovery and development rely on preclinical models that accurately reflect the molecular and functional characteristics of human tumors, while accounting for in vivo factors that influence drug efficacy, such as pharmacokinetics, metabolism and toxicity. Malignant gliomas are highly aggressive brain tumors that develop within the brain parenchyma, where their heterogeneous cellular composition engage in complex interactions with highly specialized brain cells, and a blood brain barrier that restricts drug penetration. When removed from this native environment, such as in culture or heterotopic in vivo environments (e.g., flank), gliomas either lose their molecular diversity or fail to grow altogether. Therefore, there is a critical need for physiologically relevant models that capture both the intra and inter-tumor diversity of glioma, as well as the organismal context required for drug development. Here, we present GliomaPDOX - a direct brain to brain glioma orthotopic xenograft biobank, consisting of more than 200 unique models that faithfully recapitulate the key molecular, histopathological, and proliferative features of their parental tumors. By incorporating a non-invasive, secreted reporter system to monitor tumor burden in real time—including drug-induced changes in intracranial tumor growth—we demonstrate the utility of GliomaPDOX for therapeutic evaluation. Together, this robust platform provides a physiologically relevant system to accelerate drug discovery and development for glioma. Citation Format: Elizabeth G. Fernandez, Christopher Tse, Jennifer Salinas, Nicholas Bayley, Lisa H. Ta, Laura Gosa, Henan Zhu, Michael Vigman, Francesco Sanvito, Benjamin M. Ellingson, Linda M. Liau, Timothy Cloughsey, Thomas G. Graeber, Nathanson David. GliomaPDOX - A direct brain-to-brain glioma xenograft library for drug discovery and development abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2162.

Perguntar à IA

Bookmark

View Full Paper